Ninja Gaiden (NINJA 外伝) is a series of action video games created by Tecmo. The main character in the games is a ninja named Ryu Hayabusa. In Japan, the series was originally called Ninja Ryukenden (忍者龍剣伝), which means "Legend of the Ninja Dragon Sword." The word "gaiden" in the North American title means "side story" in Japanese. The first version of the game, along with the first two games for the Nintendo Entertainment System and a Game Boy version, was released under the name Shadow Warriors in PAL regions. By 2008, the series had sold more than 7.7 million copies worldwide.

The series became popular on the NES because of its fast-paced action and platforming elements, memorable music, and its use of movie-like scenes to tell the story. This was the first console game to use such scenes. The 8-bit trilogy was later improved for the 16-bit Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995. Sega released two Ninja Gaiden games for the Game Gear and Master System, with the Master System version only available in PAL regions. The world of the original series is set in a version of the 1980s that mixes old and futuristic styles. A new version of the game, titled Ninja Gaiden, was released in 2004 as a 3D action game for the Xbox. It was developed by Team Ninja, the creators of the Dead or Alive series. The Ninja Gaiden series is known for being very difficult, especially the original NES version and the Xbox version.

According to Eurogamer, the gameplay of the Strider arcade series greatly influenced the modern version of the Ninja Gaiden series.

Arcade game

The arcade version of Ninja Gaiden, released in 1988, is a type of action game similar to Bad Dudes. In this game, the player controls a nameless blue ninja (red for the second player) who travels to different areas of the United States to stop an evil cult led by a descendant of Nostradamus. This character is trying to make a prophecy from Nostradamus come true, which predicts the rise of an evil king in 1999. The player can use many techniques, such as a flying neck throw and a backflip. Power-ups can be earned by throwing enemies into background objects like street lights and dumpsters. The player mainly fights with their hands, but a sword can be used briefly as a power-up. They can also use objects from the environment to perform stronger kicks. While the game takes place in different settings, there are only five main types of enemies that appear in every level (some levels have additional enemy types). The game is known for its continue screen, where the player character is tied to a table under a falling circular saw.

The original Ninja Gaiden arcade game was released on several computer systems, including the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, and ZX Spectrum. The Amiga version kept most of the original game’s graphics and features, such as two-player cooperative gameplay and the introduction. All these versions, created by Ocean Software, were released in Europe under the name Shadow Warriors. A version for MS-DOS, developed by Hi Tech Expressions, was released in North America as Ninja Gaiden. This version had simpler gameplay and used only 16 colors. The game was also released on the Atari Lynx handheld system. A version of the arcade game is included as a bonus feature in the Xbox version of Ninja Gaiden Black. It was also available through Nintendo’s Wii Virtual Console download service.

NES series

The story of the 1988 release of Ninja Gaiden and its sequels takes place in a world that mixes old and futuristic styles, inspired by the 1980s.

The first Ninja Gaiden game for the Nintendo Entertainment System was released in Japan on December 9, 1988, in the United States in March 1989, and in Europe on August 15, 1991. Set in a world that looks like a mix of 1980s technology and futuristic ideas, a ninja named Ryu Hayabusa finds a letter from his missing father, Ken. The letter tells Ryu to travel to America and meet an archaeologist named Dr. Smith. Dr. Smith explains that two statues hidden by Ryu’s father and the doctor have the power to destroy the world if joined together. Ryu travels to South America and fights Jaquio, a cult leader who wants to bring back an ancient demon called "Jashin" and is responsible for attacking Ken Hayabusa.

Although the arcade version of the game has little connection to the later Ninja Gaiden games for the NES or Xbox, some elements were used in the first NES title. The first stage of the NES game is a loose version of the first stage in the arcade game, and the opening scene in the NES game resembles the arcade version’s introduction. Both games include characters that look like Jason Voorhees, and the final boss in the arcade game is similar to Bloody Malth from the NES game. The game introduced many series features, such as cinematic cutscenes, the Windmill Shuriken (a boomerang-like weapon), and magical moves called Ninja Arts. To use these moves, players must collect power-ups. Each move requires a specific number of power-ups.

A version of the game was made for the PC Engine by Hudson Soft, featuring better graphics, new music, and adjusted difficulty. A handheld version for LCD devices, produced by Tiger Electronics, was released in 1988 and had a sequel.

In the sequel, Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos, Ryu learns about a new villain named Ashtar, the Emperor of Chaos and Jaquio’s teacher. Ryu must rescue Irene Lew, a former CIA agent, from Ashtar and destroy the Dark Sword, a powerful weapon made from a demon’s bone. The Dragon Sword, used in the first game, is made from a dragon’s fang. At the end, Ryu discovers that Jaquio has returned to help Ashtar and the Dark Sword fulfill their purpose. This game was the first to include Spirit Clones, which are invincible copies of Ryu that copy his movements and fight alongside him. It also added the ability to climb walls without jumping repeatedly.

Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos was released for IBM PC compatibles and the Amiga by GameTek in North America. These versions included the ability to save and load the game, allowing players to return to their exact position at any time. The IBM PC version used 256-color VGA graphics.

The third game, Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom, includes rogue secret agents, genetic engineering, and a warship. The gameplay remains mostly the same as earlier games, but more details are revealed about Foster, the CIA agent who sent Ryu to stop Jaquio in the first game and his true goals. This is the first game in the series to limit the number of continues (chances to continue after losing all lives). Attacks in this game deal 2 damage units (instead of 1 in earlier games), and the player’s health remains at 16 units. New features include a sword extension power-up that increases attack range until the end of a level or until the player dies, new surfaces where the player can hang, and automatically scrolling areas.

The game was also released for the Atari Lynx handheld system. This version includes all the content from the NES game.

Prequel series

The story of the 2004 release of Ninja Gaiden and its sequels is considered a separate series that takes place before the NES games. It is also connected to Team Ninja's Dead or Alive fighting games. The main story follows Ryu Hayabusa as he searches for the Dark Dragon Blade after his clan is destroyed by evil forces. Later games include characters from Dead or Alive, such as Ayane, Momiji, and Rachel.

The series returned in 2004 with Ninja Gaiden for the Xbox. The game was created over five years by Team Ninja, led by Tomonobu Itagaki. It received high sales and praise, earning a 94% score on Metacritic and winning the Best Xbox Game of the Year award from Electronic Gaming Monthly.

A new version called Ninja Gaiden Black was released the next year with added content and features. Later, Ninja Gaiden Sigma was made for the PlayStation 3 in 2007 by Yosuke Hayashi. This version improved the graphics and allowed Rachel to be played as a character. In 2012, Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus was released for the PlayStation Vita, adding new costumes, touch controls, stronger attacks, and a trophy list.

Ninja Gaiden II was published in 2008 for the Xbox 360. It takes place one year after the 2004 game and included four difficulty levels, a regenerating health bar, and better graphics. An enhanced version called Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 was released for the PlayStation 3, followed by Sigma 2 Plus for the PlayStation Vita in 2013. In 2025, a remastered version called Ninja Gaiden II Black was released for the PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S, combining features from earlier games.

After Tomonobu Itagaki left the project, Tecmo Koei continued the series. A new game, Ninja Gaiden III, was announced in 2010. Yosuke Hayashi, the new director, introduced changes such as a "slide" movement and a "kunai climb" technique. The game was released in 2012 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. An expanded version called Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge was later released for the Wii U and other platforms.

In 2020, Fumihiko Yasuda, the director of Nioh 2, mentioned that some Team Ninja members wanted to create a new game, possibly a female-focused version featuring characters like Kasumi, Ayane, Momiji, and Rachel. In 2024, Masakazu Hirayama, director of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, said there were no current plans to revisit Ninja Gaiden.

However, in January 2025, a new game was announced as part of the modern series. Co-directed by Masakazu Hirayama, it was developed by Team Ninja and PlatinumGames and published by Xbox Game Studios. The game was released on October 21, 2025, for the PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S.

Other games

Sega, with permission from Tecmo, created three games but only released two: one for the Master System and another for the Game Gear. Both games were called Ninja Gaiden and were the first in the series to use that name in Japan and Europe.

The Ninja Gaiden game for the Game Gear was released in Japan, North America, and Europe in 1991. It was very different from other Ninja Gaiden games. It had a smaller screen, larger character images, and slower gameplay. Unlike the NES and Master System versions, which focused on jumping and platforming, this game had a linear side-scrolling format.

Tecmo released a Game Boy version called Ninja Gaiden Shadow. This game was based on a proposed Shadow of the Ninja port by Natsume. It served as a prequel to the original game and was set in a retro-futuristic version of 1985.

The Ninja Gaiden game for the Master System was released in Europe, Australia, and Brazil in 1992. It had gameplay similar to the NES games, but Ryu bounced off walls instead of clinging to them, like in later 3D games. The game had a new story, characters, and scenarios not connected to other Ninja Gaiden games.

Sega was working on a Mega Drive/Genesis version of Ninja Gaiden in 1992. This version would have been a belt-scroll-style beat-'em-up, similar to the arcade game, instead of the side-scrolling format used in the NES trilogy. The story would have followed Ryu traveling to the United States to find two rogue ninjas named Jin and Rika, who stole the Secret Scrolls of the Fūma. Though not a port of the arcade game, some stages and enemies were similar.

The Mega Drive version was never released commercially, despite being reviewed in magazines. A beta version was leaked online as a ROM image. This beta had seven stages, cut-scenes, and bosses, but included bugs like odd controls, unfinished levels, and skipped cut-scenes. The game’s text was in Japanese for titles and cut-scenes, but most cut-scenes were translated into English. The beta included moves like punches, jump kicks, rolls, somersault kicks, and throws.

A PlayStation 2 version of Ninja Gaiden was planned for a 2000 release with the console’s launch in the United States. Around 60 people worked on the game.

In 2004, a mobile phone version of Ninja Gaiden was released in Japan as a prequel to the first NES game. It was a short, single-act story that included elements from the classic Nintendo trilogy.

Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword was released in March 2008 for the Nintendo DS. The game used a diagonal top-down view with 3D graphics, and players held the DS sideways. The story took place six months after the 2004 game, and included a new female ninja character named Momiji.

In 2012, a mobile version of Ninja Gaiden was released in Japan for Android and iOS. A North American version, titled Ninja Gaiden Clans, was planned but canceled. The game had gameplay similar to Dragon Sword but included card collection and trading.

In 2014, Ninja Gaiden was released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Microsoft Windows. The game followed the ninja Yaiba Kamikaze. It received mixed reviews, with criticism for repetitive gameplay, difficulty, and level design.

During The Game Awards 2024, Ragebound was announced as a 2D side-scrolling game inspired by the original NES trilogy. The story runs parallel to the original Ninja Gaiden and features new characters: Kenji Mozu, who protects Hayabusa Village while Ryu is in America, and Kumori, a member of the Black Spider Clan. Ragebound was developed by The Game Kitchen, a Spanish indie studio, and published by Dotemu in partnership with Koei Tecmo. It was released on July 31, 2025, for consoles and PC.

Compilations

Ninja Gaiden Trilogy (忍者龍剣伝 巴, Ninja Ryūkenden Tomoe) is a 1995 collection for the SNES that includes three Ninja Gaiden games originally made for the NES. This collection was also added as a bonus feature in the 2004 version of Ninja Gaiden for the Xbox. The three games in the collection are direct copies of the NES versions but were not adjusted to work best on the SNES. Some changes were made, such as adding passwords and redrawing some movie scenes. The third game was based on the Japanese version, which allowed players to continue playing without limits and reduced the damage from enemies. The SNES versions do not include closing credits. Some background movement effects were removed in certain levels, such as stage 2-1 of Ninja Gaiden III. Other changes were made to meet Nintendo's "Family Friendly" rules, such as changing a red blood pool to green and removing symbols like pentagrams. Some music tracks were left out, including two pieces from Ninja Gaiden III and the music in the chase scenes of Ninja Gaiden II. Some parts of the story were changed to be less strict, such as replacing the line "Argh! He's awake" with "Damn, he's awake."

Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is a group that includes Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge. It was released on June 10, 2021, for Microsoft Windows via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. This was the first time the Sigma games were available on Nintendo and Xbox platforms.

Related media

An OVA titled Ninja Ryūkenden was released only in Japan in 1991.

A book version of the NES game Ninja Gaiden was released as part of the Worlds of Power series, which included books based on other Nintendo games. A comic that comes before the main story of Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z, published by Dark Horse Comics and written by Tim Seeley and Josh Emmons, explains how Yaiba’s sword became known as Heartless.

Characters and references from Ninja Gaiden, including those who first appeared in the Dead or Alive series, appear in games developed by Koei Tecmo, Microsoft, and Sony.

• Characters such as Ryu, Rachel, Momiji, Irene Lew, and Muramasa appeared in the Dead or Alive games. Ryu, Rachel, and Momiji can be played, while Irene Lew and Muramasa cannot.
• Ryu, Momiji, and Dead or Alive characters Ayane and Kasumi appear in a short role in Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce.
• Ryu, Rachel, Momiji, Ayane, and Kasumi can be played in Warriors Orochi 3. They appear in another dimension to help other warriors.
• Ryu and Ayane from Dead or Alive appear in the Japan-only game Dynasty Warriors Vs. (previously called Dynasty Warriors 3DS).
• Ryu, Ayane, and Kasumi appear in Warriors All-Stars. Ayane represents a Ninja Gaiden character to join Ryu, while Kasumi remains a Dead or Alive character to accompany her series’ new characters, Honoka and Marie.
• Ryu can be played in Warriors Orochi 4 Ultimate.
• The ancestors of Ryu Hayabusa, Jin and Ren Hayabusa, and an ancient version of Dead or Alive’s Nyotengu appear as secret bosses in Nioh 2. Ryu Hayabusa later appears in a game update.
• Armor similar to Ryu’s outfit appears in Halo 3 as an unlockable set called Hayabusa. To get the chest, shoulder, and helmet pieces, players must collect all hidden skulls in the campaign. Players also receive an in-game (unusable) replica of Ryu’s Dragon Sword if they earn a gamerscore of 1000.
• "Hayabusa Ninja" is an alternate costume for the character Max in Super Swing Golf: Season 2.
• Parts of Ryu’s Ninja Gaiden costume were available as exclusive downloadable content during the first anniversary promotion for Dynasty Warriors Online.